Tulane University
Memphis
Offense Sputters In 10-0 Loss at Memphis
Mar 30, 2012 | Baseball
March 30, 2012
Box Score (PDF) | Season Statistics
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It wasn't what the Tulane baseball team wanted in their Conference USA opener on Friday night against Memphis, as the Olive and Blue saw their two-game winning streak come to an end. Memphis led 3-0 entering the seventh, but a squandered bases loaded opportunity by the Green Wave and a seven-run outburst from the Tigers in the seventh wrapped up a 10-0 loss for TU.
"Tonight was a very disappointing night," said Tulane head coach Rick Jones. "When you get beat 10-0 in a conference opening game you can't sugar coat it. I thought that (Sam Moll) pitched very well and they were very aggressive offensively. When you don't score a run and give up ten in a conference series opener it is very disappointing and we have to be better."
Memphis (12-14, 2-2 C-USA) opened the scoring with a single run in the second inning against Green Wave starting pitcher Alex Byo. The first two batters collected base hits, but Byo recorded outs during the next two at-bats before Keaton Aldridge slapped a base hit up the middle to plate the first run of the game.
The lead swelled to 3-0 in the fifth inning when the first four batters reached base against Byo, the final a two-RBI single by Adam McClain, which ended the outing for the junior right-hander. The inning started with a walk, a single and a walk to load the bases, before McClain slapped a single trough the left side of the infield to plate the two runs. Andrew Garner came on in relief and pitched out of the two-one, one out jam to hold the Memphis lead at three runs.
Byo ended the night allowing three runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out one to fall to 2-3 on the year. Garner would throw the next two and one-thirds innings and surrender five runs - four earned - on five hits.
Tulane (17-8, 0-1 C-USA) was off kilter all night at the plate and stranded three runners on base through six innings, but entered the seventh trailing just 3-0. Memphis starting pitcher Sam Moll retired the first hitter of the inning, but a Blake Crohan single was bookended by walks to Sean Potkay and Frank Florio to load the bases. It was the first time in the game that Tulane brought five batters to the plate in an inning, but Moll was able to get a pair of pop outs to escape the innings unscathed.
As the tides had swung all night, the Tigers took advantage of the momentum gained by Moll on the mound and piled on seven runs in the seventh inning to blow the game open. Memphis sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and Jacob Wilson capped the scoring with a three-run home run to left field to make it 10-0 in favor of the home team.
Moll threw seven complete innings and allowed just two hits, walked five and struck out three to improve to 2-3 on the season. Jonathan Van Eaton threw the final two innings and allowed three hits, walked one and struck out two.
In the contest, Garrett Cannizaro extended his hitting streak to eight games with an eighth inning double, while Brandon Boudreaux and Bowen Woodson each doubled in the contest. The five hits are tied for the second fewest in a game for Tulane and the Green Wave are now 0-4 when being outhit this season. Overall, three of Tulane's five hits went for extra bases, but they stranded ten runners on base.
The series will continue on Saturday, March 31 afternoon with the two teams meeting for a 2:00 start at FedExPark. You can hear all three contests live on the flagship radio station for the Green Wave, AM690 WIST, or by logging onto the Tulane All-Access Channel.
GAME NOTES
- Tulane leads the all-time series 45-36.
- Garrett Cannizaro extended his hitting streak to eight games on Friday.
- Tulane was out-hit for just the fourth time in 2012 and is now 0-4 when being out-hit.
- The Green Wave bullpen allowed a season-high seven runs on Friday at Memphis.
